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AN' 


ADDRESS 


TO  THE 


OF  THE 


OFWEW-YOEK, 


BY  THE 


Republican  Members  of  the  Legislature, 


ALBANY, 

PRINTED    BY   J.    BUEL, 
1814, 


At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Republican  Members  of 
both  Homes  of  the  Legislature,  in  the  Senate  Cham 
ber,  on  the  llth  day  of  April,  1814, 

JAMES  W.  WILKIN,  Esq.  Chairman, 
SAMUEL  YOUNG,  Esq.  Secretary. 
The  committee  appointed,  at  a  former  meeting,  to 
.draft  an  Address  to  the  Electors  of  this  State,  report 
ed  the  folio  wing,  vvhleh  was  unanimously  adopted: 


ADDRESS. 

FELLOW-CITIZEXS, 

AT  a  time  when  our  country  is  engaged  in  wr.i 
with  one  of  the  most  powerful  nations  on  earth,  in  de 
fence  of  our  national  rights  and  sovereignty  ;  when  op 
position  has  reared  her  hydra  form,  and  put  at  defiance 
the  constituted  authorities  ;  when  treason  walks  forth 
at  noon  day,  and,  under  the  specious  garb  of  patriot 
ism,  sounds  the  tocsin  of  alarm,  and  invites  you  to 
marshal  yourselves  under  her  standard  ; — at  such  a. 
time,  and  under  such  circumstances,  we,  your  Repre 
sentatives,  appeal  to  your  justice,  your  good  sense,  and 
your  patriotism. 

\Ve  hold  it  to  be  the  first  duty  of  every  American, 
to  love  and  serve  his  country. — Is  her  territory  inva 
ded  ?  it  is  his  duty  to  repel  the  invader: — Is  her  hon 
or  assailed  ?  it  is  his  duty  to  support  and  maintain  that 
honor: — Is  she  insulted  ?  it  is  his  duly  to  avenge  the 
insult: — Are  her  rights,  as  an  independent  nation,  dis 
regarded,  and  trampled  upon  ?  it  is  his  duty  to  cau^ 
those  rights  to  be  respected.  Armed  withthe&e  sim 
ple  axioms,  we  boldly  enter  the  field  of  argument  \vitli 
those  who  array  themselves  in  hostility  to  the  gov- 
ernmen  of  their  country.  Engaged  in  war,  we  are 
i-alled  upon  to  support,  with  vnror,  this  second  &tui£- 


M5854G9 


gle  for  freedom  and  Independence,  to  exert  the  ener 
gies  of  the  nation  ;  thus  to  produce  a  successful  war 
or  an  honorable  peace. — Many  of  you* refuse,  aint  jus- 
tiiy  yourselves  by  saying  the  war  is  unjust.  Protest 
ing  against  this  principle,  particularly  in  the  present 
situation  of  our  country,  we  ask,  if  war  can  ever  be 
justifiable  at  any  time,  or  under  any  circumstances, 
is  not  this  war  just  on  our  part  ?  Has  not  Great-Bri 
tain,  without  even  a  specious  pretext,  plundered  us  of 
huniireds  of  our  ships  and  millions  of  our  property  ? 
lias  she  not  forcibly  taken  thousands  of  our  fellow- 
citizens,  and  reduced  them  to  slavery  ?  Arid  has  she 
not,  by  her  emissaries,  endeavored  to  excite  rebellion 
and  civil  war? 

•>'•  hen  the  A  Igerines  enslaved  our  brethren,  the  sen 
sibilities  of  the  nation  were  awakened,  and  ransoms 
were  soon  provided  ;  but  when  the  .British  commit 
tlv  same  enormities,  the  tidings  pass  by  like  the  idle 
wind.  Whence  arises  this  wonderful  apathy  ?  Is  oppres 
sion  more  tolerable,  because  your  oppressor  calls 
himself  a  Christian  ?  Is  servitude  more  acceptable,  be 
cause  your  master  calls  himself  your  brother  ?  Are 
chains  less  galling  when  put  on  you  by  an  Englishman, 
than  when  by  a  Turk  ?  Are  scourgings  and  hunger 
rendered  innocent  and  harmless  upon  you,  because 
you  were  mistaken  for  an  Englishman  ?  Is  it  any  al 
leviation  of  human  suffering,  that  it  is  in  licted  by  t4  the 
bulwark  of  our  Religion  ?"  Is  the  American  Heaman, 
when  incarcerated  by  Great-Britain,  consoled  for  the 
loss  of  his  liberty,  because  she  may  thereby  be  the 
better  able  to  "tight  for  the  liberties  of  the  world"? 
"Oh  slavery  !  disguise  thyself  as  thou  wilt,  still  thou 
art  a  bitter  draught." 

But,  admitting,  or  the  sake  of  argument,  (and  for 
no  other  puipose  can  we  admit  i:)  that  the  \var  is  in- 
"  i-dient,  we  deny  that  it  is  your  duly  to  oppose  and 
embarrass  t!  e  government  in  its  p:osecuhon — we  are 
at  war,  and  the  great  desideratum  is  an  honorable 


v      5      ) 

peace  ;  we  mu=t  cither  fight  or  submit  to  the  terms  of 
the  enemy  ; — we  ask,  emphatically,  is  an  honorable 
peace  t(/be  attained  by  submission  ?  What  were  die 
doctrines  and  practice  o'f  the  fathers  of  our  liberties? 
When  their  rights  could  not  bo  peaceably  obtained; 
when  they  were  driven  to  an  appeal  to  arms;  when 
they  were  struggling  for  Independence,  and  the  en-" 
joyment  of  that  liberty  which  was  their  birthright,  did 
they  think  of  obtaining  their  object  by  submis 
sion  ?  Did  they,  when  fighting  against  British  oppres 
sion,  hesitate  about  crossing  the  boundary  line  of  the 
Candidas  to  annoy  their  enemies?  Did  they  think  it 
"  unbecoming  a  moral  and  religious  people"  to  attack 
the  t£  unoffending  Canadians"  when  they  invaded  that 
province,  and  carried  their  conquests  to  the  walls  of 
(iufibec  ? 

Reflect,  we  beseech  you,  for  a  moment,  upon  the  ef 
fects  of  the  opposition  to  our  government,  in  its  pre 
sent  circumstances.  Opposition  unnerves  the  ami  of 
government  whet,  it  most  n°eds  strength  ;  it  creates  dis 
union,  when  union  is  not  only  desirable  but  necessary  ; 
it  creates  animosity,  when  harmony  is  most  essential ;  it 
creates  distrust  when  confidence  is  required  ;  and  if 
not  seasonably  controlled  by  reason  and  patriotism, 
will  finally  end  in  anarchy  and  rebellion. 

W  hile  such  are  the  effects  of  this  opposition  upon 
ourselves,  it  essentially  aids  the  enemy.  In  our  weak 
ness  consists  their  strength  ;  on  our  divisions,  distrust? 
an  animosities,  depend  all  their  hopes  of  success.  Do 
you  doubt  that  such  are  the  effects  of  such  virulent 
opposition?  The  history  of  every  nation  furnishes 
proof:  Division  is  the  rock  upon  which  all  the  an 
cient  republics  have  split.  During  the  days  of  French 
prosperity  and  conquest,  their  favorite  motto  was — 
"  Divide  and  conquer ;"  and  at  this  moment  we  see  the 
allied  powers  of  (Europe,  of  which  our  enemy  is  one, 
alt  -mpting  to  conquer  France,  relying  upon  the  divi 
sions  created  by  the  Bourbon  interest.  YVe  need  not 
go  abroad  for  evidence  on  this  subject  :  Look  at  the 


(      6       ) 

history  of  our  foreign  relations  for  seven  rears  past., 
anil  there  you  have  it.  Listen  to  the  declarations 
made  in  Congress  by  a  leading  fe  eral  member,  that 
"  if  the  federal  party  had  joined  in  supporting  the 
war,  Canada  might  have  been  taken  in  thirty  days." 
Look  at  the  conduct  of  those  who  create  this  opposi 
tion,  and  you  have  demonstration.  In  Massachusetts, 
where  this  opposition  has  always  been  most  violent, 
you  have  marked  its  progress  from  newspaper  discus 
sion  up  to  legislative  threats  of  rebellion.  You  have 
seen  her  senate  gravely  resolving,  that  it  was  unbeco 
ming  a  moral  and  religious  people  to  rejoice  at  the  suc 
cess  of  their  country's  arms,  unless  in  their  own  de 
fence  :  You  now  see  her  legislature  discharging  the 
prisoners  of  war  confined  there  by  the  general  go 
vernment,  and  deliberating  upon  the  propriety  of  dis 
solving  the  union  of  these  United  States.  But  a  few 
years  ago,  when  we  charged  a  section  of  the  federal 
party  with  an  intention  to  dissolve  the  union,  the  whole 
party  declared  us  to  be  the  propagators  of  detraction 
and  falsehood  ;  they  disavowed  any  such  intention, 
proclaimed  their  attachment  to  the  union,  and  their 
determination  ever  to  support  it :  Now  they  openly 
avow  their  intention  to  separate  if  the  war  continues, 
"  peaceably  if  they  can — forcibly  if  they  must."— 
But  why  need  we  turn  your  attention  to  a  sister  state, 
when  we  have  full  an  i  conclusive  evidence  at  home  ? 
"Within  the.  walls  of  our  own  capitol,  we  have  heard  it 
proclaimed,  arid  repeated,  that  "  if  the  war  continues, 
the  union  is  dissolved,"  that  "the  eastern  states  will 
not  submit,  and  that  we  ought  to  let  Massachusetts 
.know  that  we  think  with  her  on  this  subject;"  that "  the 
constitution  of  the  United  States  Is  no  longer  obliga 
tory  on  any  individual  state,  than  that  state  conceives 
the  object  of  it  to  have  been  effected*' — and  that"  the 
responsibility  of  a  separation  will  rest  upon  the  ma 
jority  and  the  government." 

TTbese,  fellovv-fitizens,  are  the  sentiments  and  de: 


durations  of  men  calling  Ihernselves  disciples  or 
Washington.  Compare  them  with  the  legacy  of  that 
great  and  good  man,  and  you  will  look  in  vain  for 
the  resemblance. 

Fe-deralistsofthe  State  of  New-York,  we  call  upon 
you  to  pause  and  reflect : — Are  these  your  sentiments? 
Are  you  prepared  to  submit  to  the  will  of  I  he  majori 
ty,  or  to  imbrue  your  hands  in  the  blood  of  your  breth 
ren  ?  Here  let  us  call  your  attention  to  the  probable 
consequence  of  such  opposition.  Can  such  declara 
tions  and  such  conduct  aid  us  in  procuring  an  honora 
ble  peace  ?  Could  the  authors  of  such  sentiments  aid 
the  enemy  so  effectually  in  any  other  way,  even  by 
enlisting  in  her  armies  ?  But  it  is  not  by  declarations 
only,  that  the  federalists  of  this  state  have  shewn  their 
hostility.  They  have  in  your  legislature,  refused  to 
relieve  the  burthens  of  the  people,  by  refusing  to  as 
sume  this  state's  quota  of  the  direct  tax,  and  byrefus- 
ing  to  organize  a  volunteer  corps  of  mi'itm,  except 
under  such  restrictions  as  would  completely  defeat 
the  object,  and  be  in  the  highest  degree  disgraceful  to  a 
free  people.  Who  but  the  ingenious  federalists  of  the 
House  of  Assembly,  could  have  proved  that  a  saving 
of  near  $6.f),UOO  was  an  actual  loss  ?  That  the  true 
mode  of  defending  our  frontier  is  to  recall  and  disband 
your  troops  ?  And  that  the  best  mode  of  obtaining  a 
speedy  and  honorable  peace,  is,  to  throw  down  youv 
arms,  and  in  the  attitude  of  humble  suppliants,  ask  C. 
Britain  to  be  graciously  pleased  to  grant  you  peace? 
Such,  we  aver  is  the  language  of  their  conduct,  and 
their  declarations  are  nearly  the  same.  They  say, 
tc  ask  for  and  obtain  an  armistice,  and  then  in  sinceri 
ty  ask  Great  Britain  for  peace  on  terms  consistent 
-with  her  maritime  rights,  and  she  will  grant  it."  With 
out  stopping  now  to  enquire  what  maritime  rights  G. 
Britain  has  more  than  every  other  independent  nation* 
we  appeal  to  your  own  observation  and  knowledge. 
Has  not  our  government  both  before  and  since  the  de- 


C       «       , 

daration  o{  war,  honcpll  y  sought  for  pence?  For  six 
years  \\e  have  borne,  \\itha  patience  unparalleled  in 
the  history  of  nations,  the  destruction  and  plunder 
of  our  property.  During  that  period  the  federalists 
called  aloud  for  war,  and  abused  the  government  for 
not  declaring  it ;  but  now,  v.  hen  these  depredations 
have  greatly  accumulated,  your  are  told  the  war  is  un 
just  !  Ever  since  we  have  had  a  political  existence,  the 
British  have  impressed  our  seamen,  till  the  number  has 
swelled  to  6/257  ;  and  yet  the  federalists,  who  were 
willing  to  go  to  war  for  the  murder  of  Pierce  alone 
in  1800,  now  tell  you,  and  they  publish  it  in  your  le- 
gisJature,  that  the  impressment  of  your  seamen  is  not  a 
justifiable  anise  of  war  I 

Do  we  look  abroad  for  the  opinion  of  neutral  na 
tions  on  the  justice  of  our  cause,  the  Emperor  Alex 
ander,  although  the  friend  and  ally  of  Great  Britain, 
furnishes  authority  :  "  The  Emperor,"  says  his  Min 
ister,  Mr.  Dash koif,  c<  takes  pleasure  in  doing  justice 
to  the  wisdom  of  the  government  of  the  United  States. 
He  is  satisfied  it  has  done  all  it  i  ould  do  to  avoid  the 
present  contest."  While  we  speak  of  that  illustrious 
personage,  let  us  turn  your  attention  to  the  mediation 
proposed  by  him.  When  report  first  published  the  ac 
count  of  the  proffered  rriendship  of  fiussia,  the  fede 
ralists  abused  the  government  for  not  accepting  it  ; 
when  ministers  were  appointed,  the  government  \\ere 
abused  for  sending  ministers,  4t  begging  for  a  peace," 
before  it  was  known  whether  Great  Britain  would  ac 
cede  to  it.  Such  is  federal  consist t  ncy  !  Great  Bri 
tain  declined  the  mediation  of  Hussia,  because,  as  she 
said,  she  did  not  wish  to  mingle  the  dispute  vith  us 
with  the  affairs  of  the  continent,  and  even  peisisUd  in 
this  pretext  alerour  minister  there  had  given  the  most 
solemn  assurances  that  nothing  of  that  kind  was  int.  nd- 
cd,  nor  would  be  attempted.  Great  Britain  knew  too 
well  what  vou  VI  be  tie  decision  of  the  emperor,  and 
she  knew  that  that  decision  would  silence  for  ever  her 


(      9      5 

friends  in  ibis  country.  The  conduct  of  the  ljnnc< 
Regent  on  this  occasion-,  in  dec!  in  ing  the  friendship  of 
Russia,  but  offering  to  treat  directly  at  London  or  (.lot- 
tenburgh,  lias  been  deemed  cause  of  congratulation 
by  the  federalists  in  our  Assembly,  while  they  stigma 
tise  our  own  government  for  accepting  the  proposal, 
Such,  we  repeat  it,  is  federal  consistency  ! 

We  have  alluded  to  the  conduct  of  our  political  op 
ponents,  in  refusing  to  assume  the  payment  of  the  di 
rect  tax.  Remember,  fellow  citizens,  that  the  repub 
licans  wished  to  have  relieved  you  from  that  burthen, 
but  the  federalists  would  not  permit  it  to  be  done  ;  on 
them  rests  the  awful  responsibility  of  oppressing  you 
for  electioneering  purposes.  The  state  is  abundantly 
able  to  pay ;  there  is  due  from  its  own  citizens,  for 
money  loaned,  Sl,037,7b2  41.  Nothing  could  have- 
been  easier  than  to  have  made  the  application  ;  but  H 
it  must  have  been  raised  by  tax,  besides  the  deduc 
tion  of  15  per  cent,  other  advantages  would  have  re 
sulted,  the  business  would  have  hcen  done  by  your 
own  town  offices,  the  tax  would  have  been  rmut; 
equal,  executive  patronage  would  have  been  diminish 
ed,  and  the  collection  rendered  more  certain. 

The  disasters  which  have  befallen  our  troops  during 
the  preceding  campaigns,  afford  a  fruitful  source  of 
gratification  to  our  opponents,  and   will  be  urged  to 
you  as  a  reason  why  you  should  abandon  the  repub 
lican  standard.     That  our  armies  have  in  some  in 
stances  been  unfortunate  we  admit:  that  our  gvweni- 
inertt  has  in  some  instances  beer,  unfortunate,  in  the 
selection  of  its  agents,  is  notorious:  but  how  would 
these  evil  be  remedied  by  abandoning  the  cause,  and 
putting  its  enemies  in  power?  If  they  are  sincere,  and 
\veare  bound  to  believe  trie  in  so,  they  would  make 
peace  with   Great  Britain  on  her  own  terms;  they 
would  give  up  the  point  in  dispute;  the  consequence 
of  which  must  necessarily  be,  that  American  sea-n;>n 
must  always  be  subject  to  British  impressment,  a<: 


I      10      ) 

they  always  have  been.  The  government  is  censured 
for  not  prosecuting  the  war  vigorously,  and  }et  you 
are  called  upon  to  elect  men  who  would  not  prosecute 
it  at  all. 

To  what  causes  can  we  impute  the  failure  of  our 
arms?  In  a  great  measure  to  the  want  of  troops, 
and  a  want  of  unanimity  among  what  troops  we  had. 
"Whence  have  these  obstacles  to  our  success  originat 
ed?  Who  have  dissuaded  men  from  enlisting?  \V  ho 
have  sown  the  seeds  of  discord  in  your  ranks?  Who 
have  prevented  your  militia  from  rendering  efficient 
aid  to  the  armies  of  the  United  States?  Who  have  uni 
formly  withheld  pecuniary  assistance  uhen  it  might 
have  been  granted  ?  We  ans\ver,  federalists  have  done 
it. 

But,  although  our  armies  have  been  unfortunate  in 
some  instances,  they  have  uniformly  exhibited  marks 
of  personal  courage,  honorable  to  the  American  char 
acter;  and  in  other  instances  have  triumphed  glori 
ously  over  the  skill  arid  experience  of  veterans.  Turn 
your  eyes  to  the  water,  and  you  will  seek  in  vain  for 
one  solitary  instance  of  want  of  skill  or  couiage.  A- 
merican  tars  have  added  laurels  to  their  own  brows; 
and  given  to  the  American  character  a  pre-eminent 
standing  among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  They  have 
lauglt  Great  Britain  that,  on  equal  terms,  she  is  no 
longer  mistress  of  the  ocean.  And  you  are  told,  that 
a  war  to  protect  these  men  is  unjust. 

Fellow-Citizens,  placed  as  watchmen  upon  the  walls 
of  your  political  citadel,  we  have  warned  you  of  ap 
proaching  danger.  Choose  you  now  in  whom  you 
will  place  confidence.  Republicans  advocate  "the 
cause  of  our  country  ;  federalists  that  of  the  enemy — - 
which  of  them  will  he  most  likely  to  procure  an  hon 
orable  peace?  Republican!  approve  the  war  and  sup 
port  it ;  federalists  condemn  it,  and  by  every  mean 
in  their  power  prevent  its  vigorous  prose  cut  ion. 
Which  of  them  will  conduct  it  to  the  most  favoraht*- 
issue  !  If  you  are  willing  to  abandon  the  war,  and  with 


(  11  ) 

it  your  right  to  protect  your  own  citi/ens  on  the  ocean, 
go  to  the  polls  and  vote  for  federal!  ts:  If  you  wish 
to  support  your  government  when  fighting  for  those 
rights,  support  those  who  support  the  cause  of  our 
country, 

We  congratulate  you  upon  the  prospect  of  a  com 
plete  triumph  at  the  approaching  election.  Many  of 
those  who  have  heretofore  been  foremost  in  the  ranks 
of  opposition,  have  abandoned  the  standard  of  party 
for  t!;at  of  their  country.  Nothing  but  union  in  the 
republican  party  is  necessary  to  insure  the  victory. 
The  election  of  Governor  Tompkins,  at  the  last  elec 
tion,  has  proved  that  there  is  a  decided  majority  of  re- 
pu  licans  am<  ng  the  freeholders  of  the  state ;  to  what 
cause,  then,  can  it  be  attributed,  but  our  own  schisms, 
that  the  federalists  now  have  a  majority  in  the  assem 
bly. 

Republicans,  remember  that  on.  our  success  depends 
the  success  of  our  country  in  the  present  war;  we  be 
seech  you,  therefore,  to  lay  asid«*  all  minor  considera 
tions  and  distinctions,  rally  und^r  the  na  ne  and  in  the 
cause  of  republicanism,  and  success  will  certainly 
crown  your  efforts. 


SENATORS.     , 

Southern  District. 


Jo:<fithan 
Nathan  Sanford, 
Lucas  Elmendorf, 
JM  organ  Lewis, 
M.  Van  /  wrr//, 
J1  i/  'mm  1  abor* 
Sanuel  I.  Verbryck, 
1-ra^tus 
James  W. 


Henry  i  ates,  Jan. 


>  Middle  District; 


Eastern  District. 


C 


-     /> 


1*  i  (inci*  A.Bloodgood, 
/Jenn/    Kioom, 
Archibald  X.  Chirk, 
Henry  Hagcr, 
Phildus  tim/** 
Casper  J/. 


Farrantl  Stranahan, 
Perlcy  Kcycs, 


MEMBERS 

Thomas  S  Lcslcr, 
Nathaniel  Potter, 
.Jonnth'in  8.  Concklin, 
Abraham  Miller, 
Joshua  Barauw,  Jm 
William  Ross, 


lienjamin 
Jtstout  Sayre, 
Peter  S.  Van&rden, 
John  Kitrsled, 
Green  Miller, 
Conrad  Bener, 
Daniel  Clark, 


John  T.  t;  ore, 
John  Savage, 
Paul  Dennis, 
Charles  Starbwkf 
Sawutl  Gordon, 
Samuel  Young, 
Jlvery  Starkweather, 
John  Dunning, 


1\  illiam  C.  Bouc 
WMiam  Dictz. 


;.  Western  District, 


ASSEMBLY. 

>  Suffolk. 

Westchester. 
Putnam. 

Orange. 

Rockland. 

Ulster  and  Sullivan. 


|  Delaware. 
N  Waslwgton 

N  SaraSfflW, 
>  Schoharie. 


(      13     ) 

Aaron  ffacklcv,jun.       > 

Jonas  dcland,  >  Herkimer. 

Christoph.  P.  Bellinger,  ) 

ffasvill  hansfonl,          ) 

James  Houg/ilelingy        >  Chenango, 

John  Noyes,  ) 

Barent  Mooney,  )  Qnondaga. 

Moses  Nask,  } 

Silas  Porvfcer9  ) 

William  Sailer  lee,  >  Cayuga. 

William  C.  ttcnnett,        ) 
William  Mattery,  Cortland. 

Chillis  Doli/y  Lewis. 

James  Ganson,  Genessee. 

James  M'Call,  Seneca. 

Caleb  Baker,  Tioga. 

David  Southerland, 
Asahd  Warner  •,  ^ 

Joshua  Van  Fleet,  Ontano- 

Stephen  Phelps, 
Crugers 


,7. 


Reuben  &  AHegany*. 


Niagara,  Catacagus  d& 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
BERKELEY 

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